2017 Smart (Mcc) Fortwo — MOT failures & pass rate
Across 26,604 MOT tests analysed for the 2017 Smart (Mcc) Fortwo, the most common recorded failure areas were visibility, tyres and lighting & signalling. Its pass rate of 89.2% was above the average for cars of a similar age (87.5%). Higher-mileage examples failed more often — 26.8% in the 90-120k group versus 8.1% in the 0-30k group.
How it compares
Top failure categories
| # | Category | % of tests affected | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visibility | 4.7% | 1,238 |
| 2 | Tyres | 4.3% | 1,139 |
| 3 | Lighting & signalling | 4.0% | 1,061 |
| 4 | Brakes | 2.7% | 724 |
| 5 | Emissions & environmental | 2.1% | 549 |
| 6 | Suspension | 1.2% | 313 |
Most common specific failures
The exact components most often recorded as failures — more specific than the categories above.
| # | Failure item | Times recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wipers | 982 |
| 2 | Tread depth | 580 |
| 3 | Headlamp aim | 574 |
| 4 | Brake pads | 516 |
| 5 | Washers | 472 |
| 6 | Stop lamp | 402 |
Top advisory categories
Advisories aren't failures, but they flag work likely needed soon — useful when budgeting.
| # | Category | % of tests with advisory | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyres | 21.3% | 5,661 |
| 2 | Brakes | 12.7% | 3,380 |
| 3 | Other defects | 5.0% | 1,326 |
| 4 | Visibility | 3.5% | 938 |
| 5 | Suspension | 2.8% | 753 |
| 6 | Lighting & signalling | 2.0% | 532 |
Failure rate by mileage
Higher-mileage cars tend to fail more — often the most useful guide to real condition.
| Mileage band | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0-30k | 15,696 | 8.1% |
| 30-60k | 9,216 | 13.6% |
| 60-90k | 1,441 | 20.4% |
| 90-120k | 220 | 26.8% |
Failure rate by age
By fuel type
| Fuel | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 26,077 | 10.9% |
| Electric | 526 | 7.6% |
Trend over time
| Dataset year | Tests | Fail rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,190 | 7.3% |
| 2022 | 5,294 | 9.5% |
| 2023 | 5,374 | 11.2% |
| 2024 | 5,338 | 12.7% |
| 2025 | 5,408 | 13.2% |
What to check before buying a 2017 Fortwo
Before buying a 2017 Smart (Mcc) Fortwo, focus on the areas it most often fails on. Visibility accounted for 4.7% of tests for this year.
- Visibility (4.7% of tests): Wipers, washers, mirrors and screen damage — usually inexpensive, but check for chips in the driver's line of sight. Typical repair: £15–£150.
- Tyres (4.3% of tests): Usually a quick, known-cost fix, but check tread, age and uneven wear (which can hint at alignment or suspension issues). Typical repair: £50–£120 per tyre.
- Lighting & signalling (4.0% of tests): Often a cheap bulb, but persistent issues can mean wiring or corrosion in the units. Typical repair: £10–£150.
Repair costs are rough UK ballpark ranges to set expectations, not quotes — actual prices vary widely by car, parts and garage.
Frequently asked questions
How many 2017 Smart (Mcc) Fortwos pass their MOT?
89.2% of the 26,604 2017 Smart (Mcc) Fortwo MOT tests in this dataset passed — a 10.8% fail rate.
What is the most common MOT failure on a 2017 Smart (Mcc) Fortwo?
Visibility, recorded in 4.7% of tests, followed by tyres (4.3%).
Does the 2017 Fortwo get worse with mileage?
Its MOT fail rate rises from 8.1% in the 0-30k band to 26.8% in the 90-120k band.
Methodology & source. Based on 26,604 MOT tests. Dataset: DVSA MOT testing data (2021,2022,2023,2024,2025). Data last updated 2026-07-01. Figures reflect MOT-testable defects only — read the methodology for how these are calculated and what they don't measure.